United States Government and Politics - College Board · AP® UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS 2014 SCORING GUIDELINES ... Question 1 . 6 points . Part (a): 1 point . One point

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United States Government and Politics 2014 Scoring Guidelines

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AP® UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS 2014 SCORING GUIDELINES

© 2014 The College Board. Visit the College Board on the Web: www.collegeboard.org.

Question 1 6 points Part (a): 1 point One point is earned for making an accurate comparison of both Federalist and Anti-federalist positions.

• The Federalists wanted a stronger national government and weaker state governments, while the Anti-federalists wanted a weaker national government and stronger state government.

• The Federalists wanted a balanced relationship between federal and state governments, while the Anti-federalists wanted a weaker national government and stronger state government.

Part (b): 2 points One point is earned for each accurate description of a feature of the original

• Necessary and Proper clause/Elastic clause

Constitution that led to the growth of the national government’s power. Acceptable descriptions include:

• Supremacy clause • Commerce clause • General Welfare clause • Taxing power • Unitary Executive

Part (c): 2 points One point is earned for an accurate explanation of how each of the following addressed Anti-federalist concerns:

• First Amendment – Student must demonstrate knowledge of at least one right in the First Amendment and indicate that the First Amendment protects an individual’s liberty and provides protection from government power.

• Tenth Amendment – Student must demonstrate an understanding that powers not mentioned in the Constitution are reserved to the states and people.



Question 1 (continued) Part (d): 1 point One point is earned for an accurate explanation of how one of the following clauses has altered the balance of power between the state and national governments.

• Due Process Clause – Student must demonstrate an understanding that individual protections in the Bill of Rights are applied to the states. Student must indicate that states are compelled to follow national requirements.

• Equal Protection Clause – Student must demonstrate an understanding that the clause protects members of groups from discrimination by states. Student must indicate that states are compelled to follow national requirements.

A score of zero (0) is assigned to an answer that is off task or is attempted but earns no points. A score of dash (—) is assigned to an answer that is blank.



Question 2 6 points Part (a): 1 point One point is earned for an accurate identification of how one of the following amendments affected the electorate:

• The Fifteenth Amendment gave African Americans the right to vote. • The Nineteenth Amendment gave women the right to vote. • The Twenty-Sixth Amendment gave citizens age 18 and over the right to vote.

Part (b): 2 points One point is earned for each explanation of factors that affect voter turnout:

• Motor voter laws add more registered voters to the rolls, potentially changing voter turnout. • Photo identification laws create a potential barrier for those without accepted forms of ID,

changing voter turnout. Part (c): 1 point One point is earned for an accurate description of how one of the following affects the likelihood of a person voting in an election:

• Education o Education is positively correlated with voter turnout: The higher the education level of a

person, the more likely he or she is to vote. • Age

o Age is positively correlated with voter turnout: The older a person is, the more likely he or she is to vote.

Part (d): 2 points One point is earned for each accurate explanation of why voter turnout differs in the following:

• Presidential vs. midterm elections o Media coverage is greater in presidential elections. o Increased interest in and importance of national and presidential campaigns.

• Primary vs. general elections o Partisans and activists are more likely to vote in primaries. o Only party members may vote in closed primaries. o Many primary elections are noncompetitive. o Independents are less likely to participate in primary elections. o General elections simplify choices. o Media coverage is greater in general elections. o Increased interest in and importance of general elections.




Question 3 6 points Part (a): 2 points One point is earned for each accurate description of an enumerated power that Congress has in making foreign policy. Enumerated powers include:

• Declaring war • Power of the purse • Treaty ratification • Regulating commerce with other nations • Raising and supporting army/navy • Passing laws relative to foreign policy

• Defining and punishing offenses against the laws of other nations

• Confirming cabinet or administrative appointments: Defense, State, trade reps, etc.

Part (b): 2 points One point is earned for each description of expressed powers the president has in making foreign policy. Expressed powers include:

• Receiving ambassadors • Appointing ambassadors • Commander-in-Chief • Making treaties • Appointing cabinet officers and administrative agency heads relevant to foreign policy

Part (c): 1 point One point is earned for an accurate explanation of how executive agreements expand the president’s ability to implement foreign policy: they can be entered into unilaterally (no interference from Congress). Part (d): 1 point One point is earned for an accurate explanation of how one of the following limits the president’s ability to implement foreign policy. Accurate explanations include:

• Elections o Elections matter: Presidents must seek re-election; they can be voted out of office after first

term; elections can shift agenda or focus. o Midterm elections lead to shifts in partisan makeup of Congress, often to the detriment of

the president’s party. • Presidential approval ratings

o Lower ratings can lead to perceptions of lesser authority or influence, constraining the president’s freedom to implement foreign policy.




Question 4 5 points Part (a): 1 point One point is earned for a correct definition of party polarization as increased ideological consistency, divisions along party lines, or both. Part (b): 1 point One point is earned for identifying a trend in the graph (e.g., party polarization has increased in the House; is higher in the House than in the Senate over time; was up, then down, then up). Part (c): 2 points One point is earned for each accurate description of a cause of party polarization in Congress. Acceptable causes include:

• Clear issue differences between the parties

• Increasing reliance on ideologically-driven activists

• Ideologically-driven membership • Gerrymandering • Media effects on politics (e.g.,

fragmentation of traditional media; consolidation of media ownership; media focus on ideological extremism)

• Changing norms in Congress (e.g., lower levels of trust or dislike among members; shorter work week)

• Direct primaries – ideological voters in congressional elections

• Changing campaign finance rules • Rise of single issue interest groups • Shifts in the party (i.e., Republicans'

“Southern Strategy”)

Part (d): 1 point One point is earned for an accurate description of how party polarization affects Congressional policy making. Acceptable effects include:

• Gridlock (e.g., fewer laws passed; confirmation processes become more difficult; filibuster; greater numbers of vacancies in courts and agencies)

• Lack of compromise (e.g., fewer laws passed; confirmation processes become more difficult;

filibuster; greater numbers of vacancies in courts and agencies) A score of zero (0) is assigned to an answer that is off task or is attempted but earns no points. A score of dash (—) is assigned to an answer that is blank.

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United States Government and Politics - College Board · AP® UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS 2014 SCORING GUIDELINES ... Question 1 . 6 points . Part (a): 1 point . One point